Ernst and Margaretha Daut

Ernst and Margaretha Daut

My maternal great-great grandparents are Ernst and Margaretha Daut, immigrants from Germany to Dayton, Ohio, in the 1850's. I am the great grandaughter of their son John George Daut who moved west to Northern California in the teens. Here is Ernst and Margaretha's story in case anyone out there has a link to my family:Â“PattenÂ” Ernst and Margaretha Daut

The Rum Bark Columbia sailing ship departed the Port of Bremen, Germany, in mid-May of 1855, and arrived at the Port of New York in the United States on June 2, 1855. Among the steerage passengers were #18, Margaretha Deinzer, and #19, Ernst Daut, from Bavaria, Germany. The coupleÂ’s final destination was Dayton, Ohio, where Margaretha had a brother, John G. Deinzer, and another relative, Jacob Deinzer, awaiting their arrival. Ernst and Margaretha knew in advance about the German language Evangelical St. JohnÂ’s Lutheran Church, the German language newspaper, businesses, fraternal organizations and social clubs in Dayton, all of which would make leaving their homeland easier.

Once in Dayton, Ohio, Ernst Daut took a job as a Â“brick makerÂ” and applied for U.S. citizenship on June 9, 1855. The following year, 1856, Ernst Daut and Margaretha were married. Sophia, the first of seven children, was born on September 14, 1857.

After the required five year waiting period, Ernst Daut was sworn in as a U.S. citizen on June 13, 1860. From Â“brick makingÂ” Ernst started a Â“cartingÂ” business. A cart is a two-wheeled vehicle used for delivery of goods. The 1875-76 Dayton City Directory listed Â“Ernst Daut Daily Market, a Dealer in Fresh and Salt Meats.Â” The address was listed as the corner of Quitman and Richard Street, a location within walking distance from his home at the corner of Allen and McLain Street.

On May 8, 1877, Ernst Daut drowned in the Great Miami River that flows through Dayton; a river that was prone to spring flooding. His body was found down river some time later. Services were held at the Evangelical St. JohnÂ’s Lutheran Church on May 21, 1877. In keeping with German customs, Ernst was given another first name, Â“Patten.Â” The burial of his remains was at the Dayton Woodland Cemetery, Lot 1125, Section 76.

The unfortunate drowning death of Ernst Daut left Margaretha Â“DeinzerÂ” Daut a widow with six living children, ages five through twenty. With the help of her family, Margaretha started a home front market at 105 Allen Street called Â“Green Grocer.Â” Leonard, her oldest son, served as a clerk. Sophia, 20, went to work as a servant in the home of Mr. Conner, a widowed lawyer with young children. Elizabeth, 18, took on the housekeeping chores at home, and John George, 14, quit school and found a job at a metal foundry. Caroline re*mained in school and Andrew started first grade.

Over the following years Margaretha became a leader in a Â“WomenÂ’s Fairness League.Â” The children were getting married, except for John G. and Andrew. Margaretha turned over the Â“Green GrocerÂ” to Leonard.

By 1893, Leonard Daut closed the Â“Green GrocerÂ” market and moved into the Â“Leonard Daut Grocery and Meat ShopÂ” across the street on Allen and McLain. Andrew was hired as clerk. John G. had already fallen in love with Elizabeth Ann Aures who worked as a servant for his sister, Elizabeth Â“DautÂ” Eckert. John G. and Elizabeth were married on February 20, 1894.

Margaretha Â“DeinzerÂ” Daut died on April 11, 1894.

Re: Ernst and Margaretha Daut

Great history much of which was researched by my grandmother Edith May (Daut) Saxon - but not sure who posted this! One correction I have found since this posting is that the name of the ship was the Bark Columbia - often referred to as the Brem (short for Bremen) Bark Columbia - Brem - Rum - close anyway.

Re: Ernst and Margaretha Daut

My parents were Bob and Eleanor Daut.If you need my info for futher family tree info let me know.They were my adoptive parents and I have 3 kids, 3 steps, and 3 granddaughters.This was really interesting to find. I was looking up more info on my bio family on both sides and stumbled on this.I had heard that June was doing this but have been out of touch with the family for 16 years except for a few phone calls by me to them in that time period.My e-mail is amazon423@yahoo.com

Re: Daut's grocery store, more info

I am the current owner of the building that used to be Leonard Daut's grocery store on Allen and McLain. I have found mention of it in the Dayton 1918 Labor Review (search for "Daut") and a recipe book from 1916 -- links below. If anyone has any more information about the building's history before or after, I would love to hear from you: the.alex.experience@gmail.com

Re: Daut's grocery store, more info

This sounds interesting to me. Tonya passed on several years ago. My father was John Robert Daut son of John George Daut. She was the daughter of my cousin whose father was Roland Daut. I have no other info and the name sounds vaguely familiar. All of my dad's brothers and sisters including my dad and hers are all long deceased so no help there on history. I know their house was changed into a gas station pre-1970. Uncle Lawrence was a cable messenger boy in the early century and delivered several cables to the Wright Brothers.